Could Your Child’s Drawings Indicate Intelligence?

Your child’s skills with a crayon could be a sign of just how clever he’ll be as a teenager, according to a new UK study

See those pre-school scribbles you’ve stuck to the fridge (or hidden in the recycling)? They could indicate just how intelligent your baby will grow up to be.

That’s according to research fresh out of Kings College London, which suggests the quality of your toddler’s scrawls is linked to a part of his genetic make-up that’s also associated with intelligence.

The team found that four year olds who did the best drawing of a person (judged on things like the number of ears and eyes, the presence of a head, mouth etc) went on to get higher scores on verbal and non-verbal tests, both at the time and a decade later at the age of 14.

The team found that four year olds who did the best drawing of a person went on to get higher scores on verbal and non-verbal tests

But, before you start analysing every scribble and hiring a pre-school tutor, the experts did concede that the link was moderate and it’s nothing to be concerned about if your toddler’s giving that drawing of his sister three eyes and umpteen ears.

‘The correlation is moderate, so our findings are interesting, but it does not mean that parents should worry if their child draws badly,’ says lead author Dr Rosalind Arden. ‘Drawing ability does not determine intelligence. There are countless factors, both genetic and environmental, which affect intelligence in later life.’

Back to the three-eared dog, then.

What does your toddler love to draw? Let us know on the comments board below.

It’s always brilliant to make an effort to encourage your toddler’s development – but turns out you can also boost it with the everyday things you barely think about. From how you talk to your child to what you bring to the dinner table, make the most of every opportunity.